Got a really big pocket?

swhoutx035 · 03-16-06, 01:19 PM

Here's an article on The UMPC/Small TabletPC/Origami project from the UK:

"the world's most popular pointing device - your finger "

Some highlights of the article:

"The design, manufacturing, distribution and pricing of Origami UMPCs are down to the manufacturers, as with all PCs. But Microsoft is trying to create what could ultimately be a new mass-market platform for devices based on Microsoft's Tablet PC and Vista versions of Windows."

"Several more sophisticated UMPCs are already on the market, including Motion Computing's LS800 Tablet PC, the OQO model 01+ and DualCor's cPC . But Mika Krammer, director of Windows client mobility at Microsoft in Redmond, Seattle, says Microsoft has tried to make Origami machines cheaper and easier to use. The most obvious innovation is the TouchPack software bundle, which sits on top of Windows. TouchPack provides a simplified interface that is modified for finger operation and optimised for a seven-inch screen. It also includes a program launcher (not wholly dissimilar to the Media Center version of XP), DialKeys (an onscreen keyboard for typing with two thumbs), and an extra game: Sudoku. To get the starting price down to about $500-$600 (£286-£344), Krammer says Microsoft has focused on "using components that are already available ", such as the seven-inch screen used in portable DVD players. "Now we have this [base machine], we can innovate with different sizes, more powerful processors, extended battery life ... It's a balancing game," she says."

"The main drawback with early examples looks like being the limited battery life: about two to three hours. Microsoft wants all-day use, but at the moment, the chips and batteries cost too much."

"...the platform has some potential because of its new "10-inch user interface", and the price. He thinks the multimedia/fun elements, combined with note-taking capabilities, could make it appeal to students. The ability to run full Windows applications on the road could appeal to business users who don't want to lug a larger notebook PC around. There are also "the enthusiasts who can use this as not a second, but likely a third PC". This could be enough to sustain the version 1 product, he says."